Boxing Expert Bunce Urges Patience with Rising Heavyweight Star Itauma

Steve Bunce has delivered a reality check regarding Moses Itauma's championship readiness, arguing that discussions about the 21-year-old fighting Oleksandr Usyk or Fabio Wardley for world titles are premature and potentially damaging to the prospect's development.

The respected boxing analyst acknowledges Itauma's immense potential while emphasizing the importance of proper progression in heavyweight boxing, where rushing talented young fighters has historically led to setbacks.

"Moses Itauma has been lauded as the future of the division, which he might very well be," Bunce explained. "But right now, and where he is at in his career, he is not ready to take on the world's best heavyweights."

Bunce's cautious assessment stems from extensive experience watching promising heavyweights falter under excessive expectations. He questions what evidence exists in Itauma's 13-fight record to suggest immediate readiness for elite-level competition.

"I've seen so many instances where young prospects, especially heavyweights, have been called the 'second coming of X' and then they fall short," Bunce observed. "Because if you actually look at it in the cold light of day, what is there in Itauma's 13 wins that could lead anybody to think that as of today, he could fight any of the top guys?"

The analyst praises Itauma's grounded mentality, noting that the young fighter doesn't buy into surrounding hype and maintains realistic self-assessment. This psychological maturity provides hope for proper long-term development rather than career-threatening overreach.

Saturday's matchup against Jermaine Franklin represents what Bunce considers "perfect piece of matchmaking" for Itauma's current stage. Franklin, at 32, brings quality opposition without overwhelming experience gaps that could expose fundamental weaknesses.

Franklin's resume includes respectable defeats to Dillian Whyte and Anthony Joshua, plus a recent victory over previously unbeaten Ivan Dychko. This background provides legitimate testing without championship-level pressure.

"If Itauma beats him on points, that would be phenomenal," Bunce stated. "But if Itauma stops him, that would be one of the finest wins of his career so far – and exactly what he needs."

Bunce acknowledges Itauma's recent improvements, particularly his finishing ability since early career struggles. Less than two years ago, Itauma went six rounds with unknown opponents Kostiantyn Dovbyshchenko and Kevin Nicolas Espindola, performances that weren't particularly impressive.

Since then, Itauma has shown marked improvement in his finishing prowess, most notably in his victory over experienced Dillian Whyte. This progression demonstrates his capacity for development while highlighting remaining uncertainties.

"The improvements we want to see now are the ones we don't know about yet," Bunce explained. "We don't know what happens if he's under pressure. We don't know what happens when a guy doesn't fall over the first time he clips them."

These unknown quantities include Itauma's response to adversity, late-round durability, and recovery from cuts or stunning shots – all crucial elements for championship-level success.

The early comparisons to Mike Tyson, particularly regarding youngest heavyweight champion records, created unnecessary pressure that Itauma handled maturely. When it became clear the record wouldn't be broken, Itauma expressed relief at shedding that expectation weight.

"He wasn't walking around with a T-shirt saying 'I'm going to beat Mike Tyson's record'," Bunce noted, crediting Itauma's team for managing expectations appropriately.

Bunce's recommended progression involves another quality test after Franklin, suggesting opponents like Jarrell Miller who won't fold easily and can provide extended rounds of experience.

Only after successfully navigating such challenges does Bunce believe conversations about fighters like Wardley become appropriate. This patient approach prioritizes long-term success over short-term excitement while protecting a promising career from premature exposure to elite competition.